VP: China must play more active role in Iran deal

SHAFAQNA (Shia International News Association)- Iran’s First Vice President Es’haq Jahangiri says China should play a more active role to help Iran and the P5+1 group of countries reach a comprehensive deal on Tehran’s nuclear energy program.

In a meeting with Meng Jianzhu, a member of the central committee of China’s Communist Party, in Tehran on Monday, Jahangiri commended China’s positive stance on the nuclear talks between Iran and the P5+1.

Representatives from Iran and the six countries – China, Russia, the US, Britain, France and Germany – wrapped up their latest talks over Iran’s nuclear program in the Omani capital, Muscat, on November 11.

The two sides are working to hammer out a comprehensive deal after they clinched an interim nuclear accord last November that took effect on January 20 and expired six months later. The deadline for the talks has been set for November 24.

Jahangiri further described as very important, longstanding and strategic the mutual relations between Iran and China, and called for the expansion of the two countries’ economic, political and cultural ties.

“Officials of the Islamic Republic of Iran have a long-term view to China’s energy market and Tehran, while welcoming the presence of Chinese firms for investment in Iran’s oil and gas projects, is keen to expand its trade ties with Beijing,” the Iranian vice president said.

He added that Iran welcomes a proposal by Chinese President Xi Jinping that China and Central Asian countries join hands to build a “Silk Road Economic Belt” to boost cooperation, expressing Tehran’s full readiness to cooperate with Beijing in this regard.

The Chinese official, for his part, said his country has always adopted a positive stance on Iran’s right to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.

He added that Tehran and Beijing share a common stance on many regional and international developments.